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Alpha Lipoic Acid side effects

mgk

Senior Member
Messages
155
@Gondwanaland: To be fair, they were referring to very high doses in that sentence.
These effects were seen at the human equivalent of 3-5g of ALA a day, well below the level used in human trials that observed no side effects.
 

Gondwanaland

Senior Member
Messages
5,092
I don't disagree, but it's important to make a distinction between opinion/theory and scientific evidence.
I think it is a valid possibility that should be considered.

One can't expect that every possible variable will be considered in a research just because it has been published.

Additionally, the ends of a bell curve are not usually contemplated by scientific conclusions and how do you know where you fit in the bell curve?

But I will gladly add a disclaimer to my signature.
 

mgk

Senior Member
Messages
155
I think it is a valid possibility that should be considered.

One can't expect that every possible variable will be considered in a research just because it has been published.

Additionally, the ends of a bell curve are not usually contemplated by scientific conclusions and how do you know where you fit in the bell curve?

But I will gladly add a disclaimer to my signature.
I wasn't trying to make a value judgement about ALA or say that your concerns are invalid. All I was trying to say is that the sentence you quoted out of context is misleading. I mean it even begins with "In these toxic doses."
 

Gondwanaland

Senior Member
Messages
5,092
I wasn't trying to make a value judgement about ALA or say that your concerns are invalid. All I was trying to say is that the sentence you quoted out of context is misleading. I mean it even begins with "In these toxic doses."
OK my bad, but I disregarded the phrase beginning because there is no need for toxic doses to get a mineral deficiency. A modest dose can cause that when one is already borderline deficient in something, as is probably the case for most PR members. So I think this answers the original question of the thread: a mineral deficiency is possible from taking high or low dose ALA, depending on the health of who is taking it. Others will have other answers, mine is this one.

I am finding strange that an answer of mine is getting such a reaction, because usually my answers are just ignored/dismissed as BS :confused::rolleyes:
 

mgk

Senior Member
Messages
155
I am finding strange that an answer of mine is getting such a reaction, because usually my answers are just ignored/dismissed as BS :confused::rolleyes:
It has nothing to do with you, and I'm sorry if I came across as harsh. This thread just happened to pop up while I was researching ALA. I was looking into it as a way of raising glutathione after coming across this study.
 

Gondwanaland

Senior Member
Messages
5,092
It has nothing to do with you, and I'm sorry if I came across as harsh. This thread just happened to pop up while I was researching ALA. I was looking into it as a way of raising glutathione after coming across this study.
No worries, I don't take it personally :cool:
 

picante

Senior Member
Messages
829
Location
Helena, MT USA
I've tried taking ALA on two or three occasions, but had the same reaction each time: Sudden Onset Intolerable Mood (that term is my own invention: it means I felt like tearing my hair out). I have a list of 7 supplements/drugs that caused that particular reaction.

Has anyone else had any neurotransmitter-type problems with ALA?
 

ahmo

Senior Member
Messages
4,805
Location
Northcoast NSW, Australia
ALA has given me the same feeling as taurine, some other sulfur-containing things: excitotoxic. Sounds pretty much like you, @picante: jumping out of skin, tearing out hair. Probably some squinty eyes, can't recall the specifics now, as I just avoid them. I tried taurine again a few months ago, felt like I poisoned myself.
 

MeSci

ME/CFS since 1995; activity level 6?
Messages
8,231
Location
Cornwall, UK
I've tried taking ALA on two or three occasions, but had the same reaction each time: Sudden Onset Intolerable Mood (that term is my own invention: it means I felt like tearing my hair out). I have a list of 7 supplements/drugs that caused that particular reaction.

I don't suppose d-ribose was one of the offending supplements, was it? That made me feel as though there was a war going on inside me, and another ME sufferer said it made him want to disembowel himself!

I'm fine with ALA though. My supplement for that also contains acetyl-l-carnitine: 200 mg alpha-lipoic acid and 250 mg acetyl-l-carnitine per day. I have occasionally accidentally taken 2 tablets and have still been fine.
 

picante

Senior Member
Messages
829
Location
Helena, MT USA
I don't suppose d-ribose was one of the offending supplements, was it? That made me feel as though there was a war going on inside me, and another ME sufferer said it made him want to disembowel himself!
:jaw-drop:Holy crappola. Nope, I've never tried D-ribose, and you've just saved me a lot of :moneybag:, because it's expensive.

My list of supplements that triggered SOIM (Sudden Onset Intolerable Mood):
DMSA (1st or 2nd day)
Enzyme formulas w protease (2nd dose): mood reaction or sharp abdominal pain.
Nystatin (sporadically)
Betaine hydrochloride (1 dose)
Lifelink brand DHEA (1 dose)
Zymex (kills candida)
Alpha Lipoic Acid (3rd day)​
 

MeSci

ME/CFS since 1995; activity level 6?
Messages
8,231
Location
Cornwall, UK
:jaw-drop:Holy crappola. Nope, I've never tried D-ribose, and you've just saved me a lot of :moneybag:, because it's expensive.

My list of supplements that triggered SOIM (Sudden Onset Intolerable Mood):
DMSA (1st or 2nd day)
Enzyme formulas w protease (2nd dose): mood reaction or sharp abdominal pain.
Nystatin (sporadically)
Betaine hydrochloride (1 dose)
Lifelink brand DHEA (1 dose)
Zymex (kills candida)
Alpha Lipoic Acid (3rd day)​

Some people say that they find d-ribose helpful, but Dr Cheney found that about a third of his patients cannot tolerate it. There are several threads on d-ribose.
 

ebethc

Senior Member
Messages
1,901
If one has an already borderline low level of some mineral, it won't take much ALA to push into harmful deficiency, IMHO.

I am working my way out of a crash which - I believe - was induced by ALA... I've been wondering if it "chelated" some GOOD minerals... afterall, can ALA really distinguish between what's good for your body and what's not? I don't have a mercury problem (haven't had mercury fillings in years, and I hardly ever eat tuna)
 

cman89

Senior Member
Messages
429
Location
Hayden, Idaho
I am working my way out of a crash which - I believe - was induced by ALA... I've been wondering if it "chelated" some GOOD minerals... afterall, can ALA really distinguish between what's good for your body and what's not? I don't have a mercury problem (haven't had mercury fillings in years, and I hardly ever eat tuna)
It can also drop blood sugar, so if you are not diabetic , that could actually be a problem.